Notes from key note speeches at ISCAIP meeting, Bangkok
The three speakers leading internationally renowned institutions: Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit (JHIIRU); Child Injury Prevention Alliance (CIPA) and Safe Kids Worldwide delivered thought-provoking and enlightening speeches on what has been done in the field of child injury prevention in the past decades and what next.
Child injuries: why haven’t we done better? A M Bachani, Director, JHU JHIIRU
Injuries grow with children's age. Road Injuries, drownings and falls comprise nearly half of the injury related deaths among child under 15 years. In addition, tens of million children required medical treatment. World Report on Child Injury Prevention was published in later 2008. There are several world reports have been published since 2004 focussing on the prevention of injuries in children. These reports have made recommendations; stepping on these recommendations different institutions – national and global, have come up with several policy frameworks, legislative measures and interventions. Looking at the figures around fatal and nonfatal injuries and comparing to the progress there is a strong need to: multi-sectoral approach to solution; planning and stakeholders/community engagement in different stages of activities aimed at the prevention of these injuries. In additions, there is a need, and there is a huge opportunity, to integrate SDGs as a comprehensive approach to child development. If achieved effectively, such efforts will have a huge leverage to investment.
Where we are at with child injury prevention? G A Smith, President CIPA
United States National Action Plan for Child Injury Prevention (NAP) is developed by CDC engaging >60 stakeholders. The Plan of Action mainly focused on Awareness, Highlight the issue and facilitate collaboration among stakeholders. Featured within the 6 domains: 1) Data and Surveillance, 2) Research, 3) Communications, 4) Education & Training, 5) Health Systems & Health Care, and 6) Policy. The feasibility strategies in the NAP were tested among 9 institutions. CIPA was involved in Communications aspect. The goals of the Communications aspect was to create/develop appealing messages and strategies for effective media advocacy; engage the audiences to respond the messages. These messages include sending out clear message on the level and magnitude of child injuries; increase awareness of- and desire for- solutions; and influence perceptions of the benefits and break the barriers for effective interventions. These can be achieved through focusing a specific injury and involving relevant stakeholders in all stages of the development and dissemination. Similarly, engaging stakeholder is effective when they own the whole idea and it also includes branding. To achieve more progress: we need a game changer; capacity building and creation of partnership with bring sustainable change; information sharing needed to be done with proper attribution and leadership. A UNRSC Model can be helpful to support global child injury prevention endeavors. More work can be done: on relating SDGs with child injuries; development of national plan of action; fundraising and advocacy campaign.
Child injury prevention today; Torine Creppy; President, Safe Kids Worldwide
Safe Kids all aim for keeping all children safe from preventable injuries; sometimes there are things happen beyond our control but that is not the case always. Safe Kids has a large network of people around the world. Safe Kids works all aspects of Research, Advocacy, Programmer and Awareness related to children's safety. The tools created by Safe Kids will be helpful to work with different organisations/institutions. In Mumbai India, the children learning about road safety, particularly on walking safety. The children use a large printed replica of road structure and training by carers in the kindergarten. Children in different countries are being trained on fire and burn safety along with other advocacy campaign. The materials and resources prepare for different countries are made culturally appropriate to accommodate social and cultural aspects i.e. clothing and cooking practices. We need more strategic and coordinated, multi-sectoral approach, include all institutions, working together.